SME and AMT Announce Major Partnership to Co-Produce Five Manufacturing Events

(CHICAGO, Sept. 13, 2016) – AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology and SME have announced a major new partnership for a series of regional co-branded trade shows focused on the manufacturing technology industry. The collaboration encompasses the existing EASTEC, WESTEC, SOUTH-TEC, HOUSTEX and Mfg4 events.

The new events will feature a blend of education, applications and technology innovation, particularly in the areas of digital manufacturing, automation, MTConnect and the Industrial IoT. Mirroring the industry trend of regionalized manufacturing in the U.S., each event will include a mix of topics and technologies that are of specific interest to that region.

“SME and AMT are each bringing their unique strengths to this collaboration, which will provide our members and the manufacturing industry at large with innovative, best-in-class events to drive business success,” said AMT President Douglas K. Woods. “We look forward to exciting developments as our partnership grows.”

SME and AMT first partnered on an event-related agreement in 1989. The idea was to pull together both organizations’ resources to develop forums where manufacturers could see the latest technologies in their own regions of the U.S.

“SME and AMT are an excellent pairing, representing the individuals and companies that are the end-users and builders of manufacturing technology,” said SME Chief Executive Officer Jeff Krause. “Together, our organizations represent the manufacturing marketplace.”

The 2017-18 events will immediately benefit from the cooperation and collaboration of AMT and SME. Some updates could potentially include: innovative new learning opportunities, new interactive exhibits and more ways for attendees and exhibitors to connect and collaborate.

“The dynamic of manufacturing is changing dramatically, and manufacturers are demanding the latest and most innovative events and solutions available,” said AMT Vice President – Exhibitions & Business Development Peter Eelman. “The combination of AMT and SME will bring those solutions to a wider audience. We are excited about future possibilities as the industry evolves and the events evolve along with it.”

“Events are the live platform that drives collaboration,” said Vice President of SME Events and Industry Strategy Debbie Holton. “As two of the largest producers of manufacturing events in North America, SME and AMT provide regional venues that manufacturing professionals rely on to see the latest technology and create business opportunities.”

HOUSTEX, EASTEC, SOUTH-TEC, WESTEC and Mfg4 will continue to serve important manufacturing centers across the U.S. with enhanced content on key topics like additive manufacturing and smart manufacturing. For more information, visit sme.org/sme-and-amt.

About SME
SME connects all those who are passionate about making things that improve our world. As a nonprofit organization, SME has served practitioners, companies, educators, government and communities across the manufacturing spectrum for more than 80 years. Through its strategic areas of events, media, membership, training and development, and the SME Education Foundation, SME is uniquely dedicated to the advancement of manufacturing by addressing both knowledge and skills needed for the industry. Learn more at sme.org, follow @SME_MFG on Twitter or facebook.com/SMEmfg.

About AMT
Representing U.S.-based builders and distributors of manufacturing technology, AMT is the voice of an industry that is critical to providing what U.S. manufacturing needs to be productive and innovative. Located near the nation’s capital, AMT is the industry’s voice for policies and initiatives that increase global competitiveness, speed the pace of innovation, and support the development of an advanced manufacturing Smartforce. AMT is a leading expert in industry data and intelligence as well as international business development, and is the producer of IMTS – The International Manufacturing Technology show, the premier manufacturing technology event in North America. amtonline.org

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If you have questions about the press release or need additional information, please contact SME Public Relations at communications@sme.org.

(DEARBORN, Mich., – April 12, 2016) – SME’s Advanced Manufacturing Media has launched a new podcast, Advanced Manufacturing Now, for manufacturing professionals doing business in North America. The podcast will focus on the renaissance in technologies used to make things, as well as workforce development, research, and more.

Advanced Manufacturing Now is available in the iTunes store and listeners can also download episodes or subscribe at AdvancedManufacturingNow.com.

In the first episodes, Advanced Manufacturing Now interviews Al Albrecht, author of the book, “The American Machine Tool Industry – Its History, Growth, Restructuring & Recovery;” Mohamed Abuali, CEO of Forcam, a global leader in software for smart, lean factories; and Jim Reid, General Manager of RoboVent, a leader in clean air technology used by manufacturers. We also talk to Brian Glowiak, director of the SME Education Foundation, about building the pipeline of future manufacturing professionals.

“We are excited to launch the Advanced Manufacturing Now podcast to serve the more than 12 million professionals who work in manufacturing every day doing a variety of jobs, from welding, machining and engineering to programming, integration, assembly, purchasing and logistics,” said Dave O’Neil, director of Advanced Manufacturing Media.

Sarah Webster, editor in chief of Advanced Manufacturing Media, added, “We’re eager to tell the stories of people who work in manufacturing, to showcase how important, engaging and high-tech the field of making things can be, especially when using advanced new technologies.”

The show will be hosted by the editors of Advanced Manufacturing Media, who oversee a variety of print and digital products, including the monthly magazine, Manufacturing Engineering; a new quarterly magazine focused on digital manufacturing solutions, Smart Manufacturing; an annual industry yearbook series; and AdvancedManufacturing.org, a website dedicated to manufacturing news and technical information.

To have your idea considered for an episode of Advanced Manufacturing Now, visit advancedmanufacturingnow.com/contact-us

SME’s WESTEC2015 is a gold mine for the manufacturing industry. From SME’s Technology Interchange with NASA to Legacy Effects’ Jason Lopes presentation titled 3D Printing for Hollywood, SME presents it all. If you cannot find it at WESTEC, it may not exist. After exploring WESTEC, here are just a few highlights…

(LOS ANGELES, Sept. 1, 2015) – The National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) will be featured at the SME Technology Interchange at WESTEC 2015, Sept. 15-17 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The SME Technology Interchange is part of an ongoing collaboration between NASA and SME to advance technology use in the manufacturing industry for regional economic development.

Business leaders and technology experts from NASA will be at WESTEC 2015 with select technologies to share their expertise, identify new resources and forge partnerships with companies of all sizes. The SME Technology Interchange aims to drive economic growth by showcasing technology and process innovation, and connecting manufacturers with new solutions and expertise available from NASA.

Keynote on Unconventional Innovation Project at Medtronic and Exclusive Education Sessions Highlight Region’s Leading Role in Medical Device Development and Manufacturing

August 17, 2015 (LOS ANGELES) – In preparation for WESTEC 2015 – the premier West Coast manufacturing event – SME has released details about the Medical Manufacturing Innovations (MMI) Series, which will spotlight companies and information related to one of manufacturing’s most inventive sectors. Southern California is recognized as having the highest level of medical device and biomedical manufacturing development in the world, and this year’s event will reflect that through education sessions and an exclusive keynote.

In his keynote, sponsored by Autodesk, Gerardo de la Concha, vice president of Mexico operations at Medtronic, will share insight from his company’s experience spearheading an unconventional innovation project to reverse engineer and develop a medical device using Nitinol, a metal alloy of nickel and titanium with the unique properties of shape memory and super elasticity. These properties allowed the Medtronic team to take a new approach to development and create unique devices.

This year, dozens of new products will be introduced at WESTEC! Many for the first time in North America. Reserve your space now for free, to see first-hand new capabilities and technologies that are available. [Read more…]

Legacy Effects’ Jason Lopes will discuss how 3D printing is changing the film industry(LOS ANGELES, July 6, 2015) ― WESTEC, the premier West Coast manufacturing event, recently announced its programming for the 2015 event, which includes a keynote on the power of manufacturing in Hollywood. Jason Lopes of Legacy Effects will discuss how manufacturing – specifically additive manufacturing/3D printing – is changing the face of special effects in the film industry. [Read more…]

Industry leaders will converge on Los Angeles Convention Center to generate opportunities and business solutions for one of the nation’s most influential industries(DEARBORN, Mich., May 19, 2015) ― WESTEC, the premier West Coast manufacturing event, produced by SME, returns to Los Angeles to showcase the leading companies, new technologies and issues that will impact the industry now and in the future. The event, which will take place Sept. 15-17 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, provides companies and individuals with the chance to connect with industry leaders, address challenges, explore solutions and develop business opportunities. [Read more…]